# When was the last time a Presidency as scandal free as Obama's. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 8, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268 "2016-05-08T04:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/41 "2016-05-09T22:34:41Z")
> [@Alex\_from\_CB](#): > > So the answer to my question, “other than the hum job, what other scandals occurred during Bill Clinton’s 8 years?”…none. > > Is that your answer? Well, there was Democratgate. IE, that Bill Clinton was a Democrat. I think by the standards of this thread, that qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/42 "2016-05-10T00:52:48Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And of course, Michelle was caught up in Tonedbarearmsgate. Not to mention Michelle’s _international scandal_ getting caught up in [QueenElizabethgate](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1166490/Ones-new-best-friend-The-Queen-Michelle-new-touchy-feely-protocol.html)! The whole world, especiallly Brits, was mortified! (Scroll down for even more scandalous photos of Michelle and Liz getting touchy-feely!) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/43 "2016-05-10T01:45:12Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > The Secretary of State is the President’s direct report. He is responsible. To say it’s not a scandal is ridiculous. That’s nothing. Google “has Obama committed treason” and you will find many exemplary websites favored by enlightened thinkers that state categorically that only has this illegitimate president of Kenyan birth committed fraud and treason, he has done so in spades, if I may coin a phrase. So Hillaryservergate is small potatoes, and furthermore I think you need to hold your horses and wait for the Biggest Scandal yet to come, the one that all right-thinking persons predicted way back in 2008: that this nightmare of scandals and treachery will not end in January of 2017, because Obama will not give up the presidency. The Muslim is drunk with power and will declare martial law, as was foretold in the Bible (in Two Corinthians, I believe). It has been prophesied, and so shall it come to pass. And pestilence shall come down upon the land, and for forty days and forty nights it shall rain cats and dogs, and verily, the dogs will lie with the cats, and shall produce an abomination. And men will say, behold the abomination, we shall call it a corgipoo, for this be neither dog nor cat, but it surely be annoying. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/44 "2016-05-10T03:44:10Z")
> [@Alex\_from\_CB](#): > > So the answer to my question, “other than the hum job, what other scandals occurred during Bill Clinton’s 8 years?”…none. > > Is that your answer? Marc Rich. 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/45 "2016-05-10T04:15:02Z")
Another low level scandal is the consistent policy of lying to sell the administration’s policies. Which isn’t unique of course, Obama is a typical politician. What is not so typical is his aides and allies bragging about how they put one over on people. First Gruber, now this guy: [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_OBAMA\_AIDE\_INTERVIEW\_BACKFIRE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-05-09-13-50-23](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_AIDE_INTERVIEW_BACKFIRE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-05-09-13-50-23) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House on Monday worked to contain the damage caused by one of President Barack Obama’s closest aides, who, in a seemingly candid, behind-the-curtain magazine story, ripped the Washington press corps, boasted of creating an “echo chamber” of supporters to sell the Iran nuclear deal and appeared to dismiss long-time foreign policy hands, including Hillary Clinton, as the Blob. > [@](#): > > Rhodes appears to try to keep secret news that Iran had seized 10 U.S. Navy sailors until after the president’s State of the Union speech. The article quotes Rhodes and his aides describing how they used social media, journalists and friendly interest groups to disseminate White House-generated talking points about the Iran deal. > > “We created an echo chamber,” Rhodes said. “They were saying things that validated what we had given them to say.” ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/46 "2016-05-10T04:19:28Z")
Sure, if by “low level scandal” you mean that Obama’s aides – if this is all true – might have done in that instance what Fox News and the Republican spin machine does 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/47 "2016-05-10T04:25:00Z")
To a great extent, that’s just politics(although Obama claimed to be different). But the boasting about how you spun everyone just creates issues in the media. The Bushies stuck to their story on WMDs in Iraq rather than bragging about how they’d rolled the biggest media companies in America. You’d almost think that Obama’s people love the dishonesty and think it’s a fun game to play, and when they “win”, they should go out and crow about how they are so much smarter than everyone else. This could go back to the “smugness of liberals” article on Vox. Liberals need to be seen as smart, so this fool has to go blabbing to the media about how they are idiots and he’s the smart guy in the room. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/48 "2016-05-10T04:25:28Z")
I’d like to suggest the administration of William Henry Harrison as the model. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/49 "2016-05-10T12:08:56Z")
That article about Rhodes has been heavily disputed (including by Rhodes himself). I don’t take the writer’s word for it alone. It sounds like a heavy exaggeration of the normal (and entirely ethical and reasonable) practice of an administration’s aides trying to make a public case and focusing on the journalists that they believe are most likely to be receptive. ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/50 "2016-05-10T12:38:52Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > It is undisputed that I am politically at odds with President Obama, but it is undoubted that he is a great family man, and a man of untouchable character. I have always respected that about him. How did his daughter Malia get into Harvard? Did she deserve it? What were her grades? Was she held to the standards of an Asian American or an African American from a poor family? I venture to guess that if his daughter had extraordinary SAT scores it might have made the news. With two flawless human beings as parents and the best circumstances for growing up, she should have had perfect scores and should have been held to the highest standards. Here’s a scandal no one will touch or dare ask Obama. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/51 "2016-05-10T12:50:59Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > How did his daughter Malia get into Harvard? Did she deserve it? What were her grades? Was she held to the standards of an Asian American or an African American from a poor family? I venture to guess that if his daughter had extraordinary SAT scores it might have made the news. With two flawless human beings as parents and the best circumstances for growing up, she should have had perfect scores and should have been held to the highest standards. Here’s a scandal no one will touch or dare ask Obama. Why would you think SAT scores would or should be public? Considering how much the Obamas have tried to shield their kids from the spotlight, I think it’s highly unlikely they’d release their SAT scores. This is birther-esque bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/52 "2016-05-10T13:06:57Z")
> [@Alex\_from\_CB](#): > > What scandals occurred during Bill Clinton’s tenure? OK, the hum job. That it? Um, not quite. Screwing up to the extent of managing to get yourself impeached is pretty good for starters, but we also have such goodies as the [Clinton pardons scandal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton_pardon_controversy) at the end of his tenure in office, at which time such luminaries as Marc Rich and Mel Reynolds got pardoned. We also have one of the arguably sleaziest Presidential relatives, [Hugh Rodham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Rodham), whom the administration couldn’t quite keep out of trouble. None of that rises to the level of (for example) Iran-Contra, but there’s a variety of juicy stuff. I’ve mentioned here before that Obama, while having some questionable and wrongheaded policies, has run one of the cleanest Administrations I can remember, especially as far as acquaintances, cabinet members etc. not getting embroiled in profiteering scandals. Considering how desperately his opponents have tried to wring every last drop out of small-bore controversies such as Fast and Furious, he’s done well. On the other hand, he’s going to make life hard for whoever follows him into office. I would guarantee that Clinton or (blurgh) Trump is going to look really bad by comparison, as new scandals fly, fast and furious. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/53 "2016-05-10T13:22:44Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > How did his daughter Malia get into Harvard? She’s a _legacy kid!_ ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/54 "2016-05-10T14:11:19Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > How did his daughter Malia get into Harvard? Did she deserve it? What were her grades? Was she held to the standards of an Asian American or an African American from a poor family? I venture to guess that if his daughter had extraordinary SAT scores it might have made the news. With two flawless human beings as parents and the best circumstances for growing up, she should have had perfect scores and should have been held to the highest standards. Here’s a scandal no one will touch or dare ask Obama. Malia Obama is the daughter of two very bright parents–who both attended Harvard Law School. She’s had an excellent education so far. And no scholarship funds will be required to pay for her education. Sounds like good Harvard material. I thought Your Side was _above_ attacking the children of politicians. If this is the best you can come up with, it’s just more proof of the scandal-free nature of her father’s Presidency. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/55 "2016-05-10T14:16:20Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > I thought Your Side was _above_ attacking the children of politicians. If this is the best you can come up with, it’s just more proof of the scandal-free nature of her father’s Presidency. Huh. I thought he was kidding because who could possibly take such nonsense seriously? Well, who on this message board could… Well… Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/56 "2016-05-10T14:36:01Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > How did his daughter Malia get into Harvard? Is that a serious question? How did George W. Bush get into Yale? Especially considering that George was dumb as a brick and didn’t care for academic work before, during, or after. Malia had an excellent primary education and both her parents are distinguished Harvard alumni. > [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > Here’s a scandal no one will touch or dare ask Obama. What’s the scandal? The desperation of the Fox News crowd to try to smear a guy who’s not even running for re-election is really pretty sad. I have all the more respect for Obama for keeping his cool under the torrents of abuse he’s had to endure from the gutters of politics for eight years. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268/57 "2016-05-10T15:27:01Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Why would you think SAT scores would or should be public? Considering how much the Obamas have tried to shield their kids from the spotlight, I think it’s highly unlikely they’d release their SAT scores. > > This is birther-esque bullshit. Not only that, but so what if her SATs or her school grades were less than perfect? Harvard lets in people every year who probably would not get in under a strictly academic and merit-based system. They give preference to a whole bunch of people, including the children of alumni, which Malia Obama is (twice over). For much of the university’s history, this “legacy” system has effectively been an affirmative action program for rich white people. Harvard, like other universities, is also concerned about prestige. Even if neither Barack or Michelle had gone there, i’m willing to bet that there’s not a top-level university in the country that would deny entry to the child of a sitting president, unless that person could barely write their own name. I’m not saying that this is a good thing or a bad thing, but to suggest that Malia’s admission to Harvard is a scandal of the administration itself is the height of silliness. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-a-presidency-as-scandal-free-as-obamas/754268.md?page=2)